Whisper of the Heart Live-Action Sequel Release Date, Cast, Plot, Trailer, and Everything We Know

It’s time to rewatch that old-time favorite – Whisper of the Heart will have a live-action sequel come out in October 2022.

Whisper of the Heart has become an all-time classic for anime lovers. Based on the manga by Aoi Hiiragi (called Mimi o Sumesabe), it was first produced as an animated film by Studio Ghibli and released in the mid-90s, it tells the story of bookwork Shizuku and violinist Seiji who fall in love as teenagers.

The ending of the animated film was satisfying, but it left fans wondering about the future of the two lovers – Did Seiji succeed in becoming a violin-maker? Will Shizuku become a famous writer? Did the two marry eventually? These are only some of the questions we hope will be answered by the sequel. Here is everything we know about the Whisper of the Heart Live-Action Sequel to help tide you over during the long wait.

Whisper of the Heart Live-Action Sequel Release Date: When Will the Studio Ghibli Sequel Come Out?

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Credit: Shochiku

The live-action sequel of the hit animated movie Whisper of the Heart will be released in Japan on October 14, 2022. The movie was originally set to hit the theatres on September 18, 2022, but certain production delays may have caused the change in premiere date. Though there is already a release date that the Japanese audience can look forward to, there is still no news when fans and viewers outside of

Whisper of the Heart Live-Action Sequel Cast: Who are the Actors Included in the Live-Action Movie?

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Credit: Shochiku

Whisper of the Heart Live-Action sequel will show us the two versions of the main characters – we will see them as teenagers who are in junior high school and as adults who are ready to fight for their love.

The younger Shizuku Tsukishima will be played by Runa Yasuhara. Yasuhara has played minor roles in television shows and drama projects, but she also works as a professional voice-over artist. Her role in Whisper of the Heart Live-Action will be her first major role in a film.

Nana Seino will play the older Shizuku Tsukishima. Seino is a pretty major actress in Japan who has starred in many films based on anime and manga films and shows. She has also played the main character in the Japanese drama series Only Just Married.

Playing the young Seiji Amasawa is Tsubasa Nakagawa. Nakagawa is not a stranger to playing the live-action character of Satoru Fujinuma from the mange Erased. The older Seiji, on the other hand, will be played by Tori Matsuzaka, who has played musically-inclined characters in past projects.

Whisper of the Heart Live-Action Sequel Crew: Who are the Creatives Behind the Scenes?

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Credit: Shochiku

Sony Pictures Entertainment will be co-distributing the live-action film with Shochiku. Whisper of the Heart Live-Action is directed by Yuichiro Hirakawa.

Whisper of the Heart Live-Action Sequel Plot: What Will be the Plot of the Live-Action Sequel?

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Credit: Shochiku

The Whisper of the Heart Live-Action will take us 10 years into the future, after the events in the original manga story.
In Studio Ghibli’s animated film produced in 1995, we meet junior high school student Shizuku who spends most of her time reading almost every book she can lay her hands on. One day, she notices that a name keeps popping up in the check-out cards of the books she borrows – Seiji Amasawa. After a chance encounter involving a mysteriously independent neighborhood cat, a sculpture inside an antique shop called the Baron, and the old, friendly owner of the antique shop, Shizuku and Seiji get to know each other more.

Seiji wants to become a master violin-maker, and his determination to reach his dreams inspired Shizuku to dream big herself and to become a writer. By the end of the animated film, they both have started out on their own paths and declare their love for each other as they become engaged.

There is still no confirmed storyline for the live-action sequel that will come out in 2022, but we can make a pretty good assumption based on the trailer. We may start off with the Seiji and Shizuku while they were still in junior high, right when they realized their feelings for each other before they graduated. After they finish basic education, Seiji leaves to study abroad while Shizuku stays in Japan to work on being a writer.

The time skip takes us ten years after the events in the manga and the animated version of the film. We learn that Shizuku is no longer pursuing her dream of becoming a writer and works as an editor for a children’s literature publisher instead. We also learn that Seiji is still living abroad and completing his studies. Their time apart and the distance between them have caused conflict between the couple, but Shizuku refuses to give up on their love as she decides to embark on a journey to meet Seiji and reignite their love.

This extended story gives us the chance to see a more nuanced and well-rounded ending for the two, where we may see their dreams come true in unexpected ways.

Whisper of the Heart Live-Action Sequel Trailer: Is There a Trailer for Whisper of the Heart Live-Action Sequel?

Yes, there is a trailer for Whisper of the Heart Live-Action. Shochiku released the video on April 13, 2022, and it gave us quick peeks at key points in Seiji and Shizuku’s relationship through the years. We see the scene where Shizuku first sees Seiji plays the Cielo (which was a change from the animated film, which showed Seiji playing the violin), and we also see them after the time-skip, where they are already adults living their lives.

You can watch the trailer of Whisper of the Heart Live-Action here:

Where to Watch Whisper of the Heart Live-Action Sequel: Where Can I Watch the Studio Ghibli Live-Action Movie?

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Credit: Shochiku

If you are in Japan, you can watch the Whisper of the Heart Live-Action movie in theatres on October 14, 2022. There is still no news on when the live-action film will be available outside of Japan and if it will be available in theatres.

The animated film Whisper of the Heart helped a lot of us have faith in young love as we rooted for the Seiji and Shizuku to reach for their dreams while keeping their love alive. This live-action film may finally give us the answers to so many questions we had about their future and a more realistic ending they both deserve.